Accountant fraud in Thessalonica: 38-year-old and 19-year-old arrested in sting operation
A 62-year-old woman pretended to comply and notified police. The two perpetrators were arrested whilst waiting inside a car.
Sting operation with "accountant" in Harilaou — two arrests caught red-handed
A 38-year-old woman and a 19-year-old man were arrested red-handed in Thessalonica while waiting inside a car to receive money and jewellery from their targeted victim. According to cnn.gr, the case falls within the well-known "accountant" fraud method.
The 38-year-old had made telephone contact with a 62-year-old woman, posing as an accountant. She asked her to gather together money and jewellery and hand them over to a "colleague" of hers, allegedly in order to avoid a fine from the tax authority.
The 62-year-old immediately realised it was a telephone scam. Rather than refusing, she pretended to follow the instructions and arranged a meeting point — whilst simultaneously reporting the incident to the Harilaou–Analiepsis Crime Investigation and Detection Department.
Police officers hurried with her to the rendezvous, on a street in Harilaou. The two suspects were in a car that had been provided to them by a third accomplice, who remains at large. According to the Hellenic Police, "they attempted to flee, but were immobilised and arrested". A case file was opened against them for attempted fraud in conspiracy.
From the investigation that followed, the involvement of the 38-year-old emerged in at least two further fraud cases using the same methodology in the areas of Sykies and Agios Athanasios in Thessalonica.
Source: Google News GR — Crime (el)